KAMLOOPS — The trend is leaning towards the new wave – the Generation X and Generation Y’s – a younger generation of coaches and general managers in hockey.
Two years ago the Arizona Coyotes hired a 26-year old analytics geek as their GM.
Last week it was the Toronto Maple Leafs promoting a 32-year old from assistant to general manager.
The trend towards younger leadership would appear to have also recently claimed two Kamloops Blazers coaching legends.
“But I’m telling you right now, this is my last one year deal – I’m not coaching after this year – this is it.”
That was in May of 2016, Ken Hitchcock announcing he’d be retiring as a coach after the 2016-17 NHL season.
Then part way through that season, Hitchcock was fired by the St. Louis Blues. Last spring the Dallas Stars lured Hitchcock back, hoping that he could rekindle the fire that saw them win the Stanley Cup in 1999. It did’nt happen. After one season in which the Stars missed the playoffs for a second straight year, last month Hitchcock retired for a second time – say it’s time to let a younger generation of coaches take over.
Last week at a hastily called media conference, Kamloops Blazers Owner Tom Gaglardi announced big changes at the top end of the teams hockey operations department – General Manager Stu MacGregor and Head Coach Don Hay – not returning in those positions.
“These kids are different kids,” says Gaglardi. “I’ll tell you I expect we’ll see a younger group of managers and coaches coming to Kamloops this time around.”
Has the generational gap become less bridgeable between todays generation Z players and the perceived old school coaches 60 and over?
“If you just want to sit and rely in experience,” Hitchcock said two years ago, “And think you’re going to be able to do the job, it’s a huge mistake, as an older coach.”
“Hockey hasn’t changed a lot,” says Don Hay. “I think people have changed, players have changed, I think parents have changed, I think agents have changed. The game is still pretty fundamental, but there’s a lot of noise around the game now. I think that’s probably changed more than anything – it’s like raising a family – some families are very disciplined with their kids, some families aren’t as disciplined with their kids. I’ve kept up to date with everything,” says Hay. “I’ve gone to coaches clinics, I’ve went to learn, I’ve talked at them – I don’t think you last 20 years coaching unless you find ways to change – and I think I’ve done that.”
The announcement of Hays departure as coach of the Blazers was that it was a retirement.
At a media gathering a day after the Tom Gaglardi announcment, Hay did’nt sound like someone who has retired from coaching.
It remains to be seen if there’s a team out there that will give the winningest coach in Western Hockey League history, another chance to coach.
